Vito P. Baldini

Obituary for Vito P. BaldiniIt is with great sadness that the family of Vito P. Baldini announces his unexpected but peaceful passing at the age of 80 on June 23, 2020 at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, PA where he was surrounded by his family. Vito will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 50 years, Irene and his four children, Alessandra Baldini, Maria Kelley (Dave), Danielle Baldini, and Vito Baldini (Amrah), and his five grandchildren, Bruno Baldini, Jack and Davyn Kelley, and Abrielle and Seraphina Baldini as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.Vito is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He served in the US Army as a Green Beret with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborn) from 1963-1965. Born on August 14, 1939 in Philadelphia, PA to the late Alessandro and Mary Baldini . He grew up on 65th street at St Donato’s parish and then went on to raise a family in the Overbrook neighborhood of Philadelphia. He graduated with the Class of 1957 from St Thomas More High School and the friendships he made there lasted his lifetime. His passion in his youth was building cars and racing his 1957 Chevy, which earned him many trophies along with the nickname “Hot Rod”. Vito met the love of his life, Irene, in 1962 and they were married 7 years later on May 2, 1970. He worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard from the age of 17 where he started out as a Machinist Apprentice and moved on at age 26 to become the youngest supervisor in the history of the shipyard at the time. He ended his career there as a General Forman after 32 years of employment and retired with regret in 1987. The people he worked with were like family to him and he kept in touch with many of them for the remainder of his life.Although he retired from work in 1987, in no way did he retire from life. Vito remained a very active member of the community and touched many lives with his kindness, sense of humor and infectious personality. He was known by many as “The Mayor of Woodcrest Avenue” and he was always helping everyone he knew, as well as those he did not know. Vito was a valued member of Our Lady Lourdes Church where he led the Charismatic Renewal group, served as a Eucharistic Minister giving communion to those who were hospitalized, and was involved in Catholic Charities. Vito was gifted and self-taught at woodworking. He enjoyed nature, gardening, and was an avid reader. Vito is most known for the way he loved to live life. Vito will be remembered for the many ways in which he touched the lives of those with whom he crossed paths.Relative and Friends are invited to his Funeral Mass on Wednesday, July 1st, 10:00 AM at Our Lady Of Lourdes Church, 6301 Woodbine Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19151. Inurnment SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Vito’s memory made to the St. Thomas More Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 294, Drexel Hill, PA 19026 would be appreciated.